Dewhurst, Cruz likely to battle one more time

By Peggy Fikac

Updated 2:33 am, Wednesday, May 30, 2012

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst hugs his daughter Carolyn after addressing a crowd of supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst hugs his daughter Carolyn...

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz talks with Eric Derringon, of Houston before his election watch party, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in the JW Marriott Houston in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz talks with Eric...

US Senate Republican primary candidate, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, visits with restaurant, on election day Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

US Senate Republican primary candidate, Texas Lt. Gov. David...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst hugs his daughter Carolyn after addressing a crowd of supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst hugs his daughter Carolyn...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst hugs his daughter Carolyn as his wife Tricia Hamilton Dewhurst looks on after addressing a crowd of supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst hugs his daughter Carolyn as...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst waves to a crowd of supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst waves to a crowd of supporters...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst addresses a crowd of supporters as his wife Tricia Hamilton Dewhurst hugs their daughter Carolyn at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst addresses a crowd of...

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, answers questions about a run off with Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst , Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in the JW Marriott Houston in Houston. Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and tea-party backed former state Solicitor General Cruz are heading to a runoff in the state's Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, answers questions...

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, tells supporters that the run off is his territory and that Texas showed it's support for the Tea Party, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in the JW Marriott Houston in Houston. Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and tea-party backed former state Solicitor General Cruz are heading to a runoff in the state's Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, tells supporters...

US Senate Republican primary candidate, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, visits with restaurant, on election day Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

US Senate Republican primary candidate, Texas Lt. Gov. David...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst, center, visits with diners at Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen Restaurant on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst, center, visits with diners at...

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, talks to supporters with his wife Heidi Cruz and daughters Catherine (left) and Caroline, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in the JW Marriott Houston in Houston. Cruz will run against Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst , who he challenged to five debates.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, talks to...

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, gets a kiss from his wife Heidi Cruz as he acknowledges her during his speech at his primary election watch party, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in the JW Marriott Houston in Houston. Cruz will run against Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst , who he challenged to five debates.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, gets a kiss from...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst addresses a crowd of supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston. Dewhurst and tea-party backed former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz are heading to a runoff in the state's Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst addresses a crowd of...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst kisses a supporter after addressing a primary watch party at the Intercontinental Hotel on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst kisses a supporter after...

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst addresses a crowd of supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel during a primary watch party on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Houston.

AUSTIN — One battle down, one more to go in the multimillion-dollar race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate between Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and national tea party favorite Ted Cruz.

Dewhurst led Cruz, followed by seven other candidates, in Tuesday's race for the Republican nod to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The two top vote-getters appeared to be headed for a July 31 runoff, with Dewhurst short of the majority required for an outright win in the rough-and-tumble battle that has been portrayed nationally as a fight between the GOP establishment and tea party conservatives.

“Make no mistake, Mr. Cruz. I'm a fighter,” Dewhurst said at his election-night party at a Houston hotel. He then told the crowd, “I will fight for you. I will fight for every single vote. And I'm going to win this U.S. Senate race.”

Cruz, at his own election-night party in Houston, challenged Dewhurst to a series of five debates between now and the runoff, chiding him for forums that he skipped in the primary.

“In this first round, which was supposed to be the only round, my opponent made a decision that the people didn't matter,” Cruz said. “I am hopeful in this second round that the establishment has learned its lesson.”

Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert conceded less than two hours after the polls closed.

On the Democratic side, a runoff also loomed as former lawmaker Paul Sadler led a four-candidate field but was far short of a majority. He appeared to be headed to a runoff with Grady Yarbrough, a retired educator from San Antonio.The GOP race drew a national focus after Indiana and Nebraska contests in which establishment-favored Republican candidates were toppled by come-from-behind hopefuls.

It was the first time on a ballot for Cruz, the state's former solicitor general and the son of a Cuban immigrant. Cruz, who relentlessly fought to paint Dewhurst as moderate, had endorsements from national conservative leaders and groups including Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum and the limited-government Club for Growth.

Dewhurst touted his record as the most conservative ever forged by a lieutenant governor, pointing to actions including steep budget cuts and passage of a sonogram measure last year. He worked to portray Cruz as a candidate supported by Washington-insider groups. Dewhurst's endorsements included Gov. Rick Perry, Texas business groups and state anti-abortion activists, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Former ESPN football analyst Craig James got a burst of attention when he entered the GOP race but couldn't match the millions in spending by and for the top candidates.

Dewhurst, who made a fortune in the energy business, had put around $9.9 million of his money into the race as of the end of last week. Both he and Cruz — a Houston lawyer who put about $1 million of his money into his race, according to his campaign — also said they raised more than $6 million apiece from contributors. In addition, outside groups backing Cruz and Dewhurst put in big money.